Speaker: Dr. R.S. Khandpur, former Director General, Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala
Date and Time: Jan. 19, 2019, Saturday; 10:30 AM
Venue: Auditorium, SAIF/ Central Instrumentation Lab (next to Maths. Dept.), Panjab University, Sector 14 Campus, Chandigarh
Abstract: The enlightened political leadership post independence was conscious of the important role science and technology can play in development of the country. It was also realized that infusing scientific temper among the general masses would be essential to pull the society out of superstitions, that is necessary for a developed nation. Setting up a series of science centres in the country was considered as an essential component to meet the intended objectives. Creation of Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) at Kapurthala stands towering as a part of this initiative. The building of the PGSC was a task that was full of constraints and challenges as the project was to be set up in rural hinterland of Punjab with no trained manpower in the field readily available in the country and very little support in terms of manufactured scientific exhibits. The other challenges included building an all-inclusiveplace for people of all ages with different educational and social background. The talk will dwell upon as to how these and many other such challenges were met with meticulous planning and well thought out strategy in developing the most modern Science City in the country.
About the Speaker: Dr. R.S. Khandpur is a former Director General, Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala. He has steered the development of the Science City almost from scratch to a centre of international level. The Science City today is an emblem of pride not only for Punjab, but also for the nation. Dr. Khandpur has been awarded the National award for his contribution in Science Popularisation and Communicationby DST’s NCSTC for 2017 . A former Director General of Centre for Electronics Design & Technology of India of Ministry of Information & Communication Technology, Govt. of India, Dr. Khandpur is the Founder Director of CDAC, Mohali. He served as Scientist for 24 years in CSIO, Chandigarh, as Head of Medical Instruments Division (1975-1989) and Head, Electronics Division (1985-89). He has been AICTE/ NAE Distinguished Visiting Professor to prominent engineering institutes.
Dr. Khandpur did his B.Sc. in 1962 from DAV College, Amritsar obtaining FIRST position in the Panjab University; B.E from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore with DISTINCTION, did post-graduate research at Royal College of Surgeons of England, London. Punjab Technical University conferred on him the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa).
Dr. Khandpur has been Member, Board of Governors, Punjab Technical University; Director, Board of Directors, Punjab Information and Communication Technology Corporation, Chairman, Beant College of Engineering and Technology, Gurdaspur; Member Planning Board, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. Presently, he is Chairman of Project Approval & Monitoring Committee of DST, GoI and is on the Committees of several other Central/ State Govts. He is member of IEEE,USA, Honorary Fellow, Punjab Academy of Sciences and Fellow, IETE.